How Seasons Change by Laura (AKA Amazon Dreamer)
A look at Kel and Dom's life together through the years.
For Amanda (AKA Lady of the Lilacs), who requested some pure K/D fluff
~*~*~*~
Keladry of Mindelan, Knight of the Realm sat alone in a snowy courtyard. A flock of sparrows fluttered about her, pecking the seed she had sprinkled on the ground or eating from her hand. A heavy woolen cloak protected her from the winter chill. Jump, who had been dozing beside a snow drift, lazily got to his feet and with an encouraging woof trotted off.
"Now where could he be going?" Kel mused. Turning to watch the departing dog Kel gaped to see a familiar form, a burnoose covering the royal blue uniform of the King's Own. "Dom!" She cried, scattering sparrows and seeds as she clambered to her feet, "You're back! They said your company would be in the desert till spring!"
"You know me, love," Dom laughed, "Give me snow and ice over sun and sand any day!"
Eagerly Kel rushed into Dom's outstretched arms, "The sun's baked all the sense out of you," Kel replied tartly. She pressed her nose into the rough fabric of the burnoose smelling the sweet scent that was so uniquely and characteristically Dom she felt tears spring to her eyes.
"But, how… how is this possible?" she asked staring up into his merry blue eyes.
"Call it Midwinter luck, sweetling," Dom shrugged, a decidedly difficult task with his arms wrapped tightly around Kel's waist.
"But..."
"There will be time for talk later Kel, you haven't even kissed me yet. And I do so hate to beg."
With unrestrained enthusiasm she kissed him, savoring the taste, the feel of his lips.
"I've missed you so much, Dom," she whispered when they broke the kiss, "I never though it would be possible to miss someone so much."
"There now, sweet, I'm here now. No need for tears," Tenderly he kissed away the tearstains on her cheeks.
"But… how… you've got a responsibility to the Own… how…"
"Can we talk about it… someplace a little warmer?" He asked, smiling, "These burnooses are great for the heat of the desert, but…"
"Oh you're as bad as Neal!" Kel scolded, wrapping her own cloak around him, "I swear I don't know how you manage when I'm not around to look after you!"
~~
"Tell me again why I'm doing this?" Kel demanded.
"Because you love him," Lalasa replied, "Now stop squirming! I need to get this hem straight."
Biting her lip Kel studied her reflection in the mirror. "Do I look alright? Will he like it, do you think?"
"You look fine," Tianine assured her, assisting her lover with the hem, "If you don't calm down, and let us finish you'll be late for your own handfasting!"
"I just don't know," Kel sighed, running her hands down the full white skirts of her gown, "It's too much, too… too girly, too feminine! I am still a knight after all!"
"Hush Kel," Yuki soothed, "You're just nervous, it's perfectly normal. I felt the same way when I married Neal. It'll pass."
"Yes, I remember," Kel replied, smiling at her friend, "And the gown does look lovely Lalasa. Thank you, it's just…"
"You're not having second thoughts, are you dearest?"
"Dom!" Kel cried, spinning to see her lover, "Dom you shouldn't be here! It's bad fortune for us to see each other before the ceremony!"
"I think the gods will forgive me, just this once," Dom grinned, "You look stunning Kel."
"You do too." Dom was clad in the royal blue dress uniform of the Kings Own. Kel's heart twisted painfully as she realized this would be the last time she saw him in uniform. After the ceremony, Dom would have to resign. That had been the one sticking point of their engagement. Kel had argued against the sacrifice Dom would have to make, but the man insisted that it was for the best. "Dom, I…"
"Hush, sweet," he murmured, stepping close, "I cannot stay long. I just needed to see you, to remind myself that it's all real." Tenderly he took her hand in his and brushed his lips across her knuckles. His loving gaze met hers with unwavering intensity, "I must go," he whispered.
Dumbly Kel watched as he left the room, "Oh yes, that's why." She whispered.
"Alright, I'm done here," Lalasa announced.
Thorn, granddaughter of Crown had been watching the preparations from her perch on Lalasa's pincushion. As Kel stepped down from the stool she had been standing on, Thorn chirped imperiously. Dozens of sparrows flew in though the open window, carrying in their beaks a garland woven from the first spring flowers. At Thorn's direction the sparrows gently lowered it to Kel's head, careful not to muss the ornate arrangement.
"Thank you Thorn," Kel says, offering her hand for the sparrow to perch on.
"Come on, Kel," Yuki urged, "It's time."
With sparrows spiraling around her, and her friends following behind Kel made her way to the temple.
~~
"Mama! Papa! Watch me!"
"We're watching, Blaire," Dom assured his young daughter.
"She takes after you," Kel murmured to her husband as she watched the girl leap from a rocky outcrop to the sea below. Shaking her head in amusement Kel returned to the sand fortress she was building with her son Emry.
"But Mama," he protested, "If you put the watch tower there, the guards won't be able to see past that rise," he pointed to a small sand dune.
"Of course, Emry," Kel replied ruffling her son's brown locks, "Where shall we put it, Commander?"
"Hmm," his small brow furrowed as he studied the sandy landscape.
"I'm hungry!" Blaire interrupted, dripping from her recent swim.
"You ruined my village!" Emry shouted, his chubby face contorting into a glower.
"That was a village?" Blaire scoffed, kicking at the sand beneath her feet.
"HEY! Stop it!" Emry cried getting to his feet. His hand curled into a fist. Wildly the boy swung at his sister.
"Hey now," Kel said calmly, placing a restraining hand on each of her children, "There will be no fighting, or we're all going home."
"But she…"
"There was no need to resort to violence."
"Sorry, Mama," Emry mumbled, hanging his head.
"And you," Kel turned to her daughter, "Should not have provoked him!"
"Sorry, Mama," Blaire sighed, "I didn't mean to."
"You two go wash up; your father and I will get lunch ready."
Watching her children, Kel sighed. "How far I've come… I'm accepted as a Knight, and I'm a mother as well…" Slowly she got up, wincing as she stood.
"Still hurt, love?" Dom asked solicitously, wrapping an arm around his wife's waist.
"Yeah… yeah it does," Kel admitted, rubbing her left thigh. That spring she had taken an axe swing across her leg, and despite the best efforts of the healers it pained her still. Kel had been granted an extended leave of absence, until she regained her strength.
Dom was taken aback, that was a major concession from Kel, who liked to play down the injury. 'She must really be in pain,' Dom realized. "Why don't you just sit here, I'll get the food." Tenderly he placed a kiss upon his wife's brow, "We'll get though this Kel. Together."
~~
The gray-haired woman knelt before the Black god's alter. Her broad shoulders shook as she sobbed. "Why?" Kel begged, "Why did you take my husband from me? Why him? Why now? We're not so old, we could have had many years together…" sobs consumed her, as she doubled over, prostrating herself before the God of Death. "Why? When I am so far from home? I could… could not even hold him as he…" A high keening wail passed her lips. Hot tears streamed down her face, and she paid them no heed. "Dom… Dom.... you can't be gone! I love you… I can't… you can't leave me. I need you Dom. I need you."
"It's alright Kel. He's in a better place now," Neal murmured, placing a strong hand on the grieving woman's shoulder.
"How can you know? How can you be so sure?" She demanded angrily, "How do you know what comes after death?"
"I believe… because I have to Kel. It's the only way to cope. You'll see, in time. My cousin was a good man. He had a good life, and he loved you."
"Gods Neal," she sobbed, "I don't know how I can go on without him."
"You have to Kel, but nobody expects you to be strong right now. We're here for you Kel, you friends and family… we'll help you get though this. Come on, your children are waiting to see you."